Ratchet wrench with supplemental head turning means



1'. J. KNISER Dec. 24, 1957" RATCHET WRENCH WITH SUPPLEMENTAL HEADTUfifiING MEANS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 18, 1956 R4, m w N mm R n flmM T. J. KNlSER Dec. 24, 1957 RATCHET WRENCH'WITH SUPPLEMENTAL HEADTURNING MEANS Filed May 18, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 T. J. KNISER 7-RATCHET WRENCH WITH SUPPLEMENTAL HEAD TURNING MEANS Dec. 24, 1957 5Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 18, 1956 INVENTIOR.

7770mm J 12 2's 9/ BY I JTTO'RNEY' RATCHET WRENCH WITH SUPPLEMENTAL HEADTURNING MEANS Thomas J. Kniser, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application May 18, 1956, Serial No. 585,661

2 Claims. (Cl. 81-581) This invention relates to improvements in handoperated double ratchet wrenches.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a double ratchet handwrench that is adapted to turn a nut onto a bolt easier and faster thanwrenches of similar character, with less handle movement. The handlebeing made of any length to enable the operator to easily reach and turnor hold, hard to reach nuts or bolts.

The wrench embodying the invention comprises a new type handle and frameholding two main spring loaded pawls which alternately engage a mainratchet wheel, which is provided with a square drive stub at its center.The wrench also includes a gear rack that will engage gear teeth on adrive gear having spring biased pawls that will engage indentations inthe main ratchet wheel so that two types of ratchet wheels areincorporated in the wrench.

Another object of the invention is to provide a ratchet wrench that willeflicientlyoperate in a small space.

With the above and other objects and advantages in view the inventionconsists of the novel details of construction, arrangement andcombination of parts more fully hereinafter described, claimed andillustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a double ratchet wrench embodyingthe invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevational side view of the wrench with the side coverplate removed exposing certain elements of the wrench;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the wrench;

Fig. '4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the wrench showing the topremoved;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of the top of thewrench with the top removed;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detailed fragmentary sectional view of the ratchetwheel and pawls therefor;

F Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view on the line 7-7 of 8 is a verticalsectional view on the line 8-8 of 1g.

9 is an elevational view of the drive gear or plate;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of one of the spring biased pawls in thedrive plate of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a vertical sectional view on the line 11-11 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 12 is a vertical sectional view on the line 12-12 of Fig. l; and

Fig. 13 is a vertical sectional view on the line 13-13 of Fig.2.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, wherein like parts aredesignated by like reference numerals, the reference numeral 15 is usedto generally designate a wrench embodying the invention.

The wrench 15 comprises a frame 16 having a ratchet housing 17 at oneend and a hand grip 18 at the opposite end. The handle 16 comprises atop portion 18a, back wall 19 and a bottom portion 20. The top portion18a is provided with an apertured ear 21, the bottom portion is providedwith apertured ears 22 and 23, bolt receiving openings 24 are providedin the back wall 19 and an apertured car 25 extends outwardly of thebottom of the hous ing 17. The ears and openings receive screws 26whereby a removable side plate 27 is secured in place on the handle 16.

The frame 16 houses all of the working parts of the wrench 15 andretains the various elements to be later described in proper relation toeach other. The hollow frame 16 is cast or prefabricated from a materialthat will provide maximum strength for the application of torque to theratchet wheel. That end portion of the frame 16 remote from the ratchethousing 17 may be used as a handle portion and is generally designatedat 17a.

A ratchet wheel 28, Fig. 6, is provided with ratchet teeth 29 on theperiphery thereof and a circular row of indentations 30 on one sidethereof. A hub 31 on the opposite face of the wheel 28 is journalled inan opening 32 in the back wall 19 of the frame 16. A circular driveplate 33, Fig. 9, is provided with gear teeth 34 on a portion of the theperiphery thereof. Four radially disposed spring biased pawls 35, Fig.10, are seated in seats 36 in one side of the plate 33 and by means of acentral opening 37 the plate is mounted on the hub 38 of ratchet wheel28 that extends through an opening 39 in the side cover 27 of the handle16. The ratchet wheel 28 and drive plate 33 are in face-to-faceengagement so that the pawls 35 will engage the indentations 30 in theside of the ratchet wheel 28.

The hubs 31 and 38 of the ratchet wheel 28 each have a 'square opening40 therein to receive a similarly shaped drive stud 41. Each pawl 35 hastwo angularly disposed faces 42 and 43 and an elliptically shaped body44 that is seated in the recesses 36 in the plate 33. A spring pressedball 45 retains the stud 41 in the opening 40 in the conventionalmanner.

A mounting block 45a and a mounting block 46 are provided in the ratchethousing 17. The block 45a receives a pin 48 on which is pivotallymounted a pawl 49 that engages the teeth 29 on the ratchet wheel 28. Theblock 46 receives a pin 50 on which is pivotally mounted a pawl 51 andsprings 52 and 53, respectively, engage the pawls 49 and 51 to urge thesame into engagement with the teeth 29. A short stud 54 on the wall ofthe housing 17 and a short stud 55 on the pawl 49 retain the spring 52in place. A short stud 56 on the block 46 and a short stud 57 on thepawl 51 serve to retain the spring 53 in position.

A gear rack 58 is positioned in the bottom of the housing 17 forengagement with the teeth 34 on the gear plate 33. An operating rod 59is connected to one end of the rack 58 and extending longitudinallythrough the frame 16 is pivotally connected by a pivot pin 60 to a handactuating lever 61. The rod 59 passes through an opening 62 in the block45a and a spring 63 mounted on the rod 59 and engaging the block 45a atone end and a washer 64 at the opposite end urges the rod 59 forwardlywith respect to the front of the housing 17. The lever 61 is pivotallymounted at 65 in the handle portion 17a of the frame 16 and fingeropenings 66 are provided in the back wall 19 and side cover 27 inalinement with each other. The lever 61 extends through an elongatedslot 67 in the bottom 20 of the frame 16.

Formed integrally with the bottom 20 of the frame 16 is a rack support68 which engages the gear rack 58 to prevent side play of the gear rack.

In operation, the position of the lever 61 may be in one of threelocations in accordance with the amount of torque required. The use ofthe lever 61 may be eliminated and the ratchet wheel 28 can be turned tomaximum torque through the pawls 49 and 51 and rotation of the frame 16.The gear plate 33 and gear rack 58 are returned to their most forwardpositions through the action of the Patented Dec. 24, 1957.

3 spring 63. The ratchet wheel 28 and gear plate 33 drive in onedirection simultaneously clockwise or anti-clockwise through the use ofthe frame 16 as a handle.

The speed of rthe ratchet Wheel :28 is .increased and movement .of theframe 16 as a handle is stopped when the lever 61 is used. The speed ofthe rotation of the ratchet wheel 28 then is limited only by therapidity with which the user may open and close his hand. Sufiicienttorque can be applied through the use of the lever 61 to set up hard thesmaller nuts and bolts.

Compression of the lever 61 causes the rearward movement of the rod.59and gear rack 58, which in turn causes rotation of the gear plate 33.The teeth .34 of the gear plate engage the gear rack for the full throwof thelever 61. The pawls 35 in the gear plate 33 engaging theindentations 30 of the ratchet wheel 28 cause the rotation of theratchet wheel and consequentrotation of the stud 41. As :the lever6:1.is:released, the spring 63 returns the gear rack 58, the pawls 35releasefrom the indentations 30 and the ratchet wheel remainsstationary. Alternate grippingand release of the lever-61 causesrotation of the stud 41, as previously described, to tighten a nut orloosen a nut. It should be understood that a socket the size of .the nutbeing worked on is placed on the stud 41. If desired, on small nuts,fingers may be inserted into the openings '66 to operate the rod 59.Thus by rotation of the frame 16 by its handle portion 17a or byalternate gripping and releasing of the lever 61 a nut may be loosenedor tightened as desired,

It is believed that the construction and operation of the wrench will beapparent to those skilled in the art and it is to be understood thatchanges in the minor details of construction, arrangement andcombination of parts may be resorted to provided they fall within thespirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A ratchet wrench comprising a handle, a ratchet wheel rotatablymounted in one end of said handle, pivoted spring biased pawls engagingsaid ratchet wheel, a rotary drive plate coaxial with the ratchet wheelin juxtaposed relation thereto, means for releasably connecting saidplate to said ratchet wheel, and means for operating said drive plate toalternately rotate said ratchet wheel, said means for connecting saiddrive plate to said ratchet wheel comprising indentations in a side faceof said ratchet wheel and spring-pressed cooperating pawls in anadjacent side face of said drive plate.

2. A ratchet wrench comprising a handle, a ratchet wheel rotatablymounted in one end of said handle, pivoted spring-biased pawls engagingsaid ratchet wheel, a rotary drive plate coaxial with the ratchet Wheelin juxtaposed relation thereto,'means for releasably connecting saidplate to said ratchet wheel, and means for operating said drive plate to:alternately rotate said ratchet wheel, said ratchet wheel beingprovided with oppositely extending hubs for mounting said ratchet wheelin said handle, and said drive plate being provided with a centralopening whereby said drive plate is mounted on one of the hubs of said:ratchet wheel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS919,260 Smith Apr. 20, 1909 1,808,959 Lane et .al. June 9, 19311,970,721 Walton Aug. 21, 1934 2,508,568 Ellison May 23, 1950 2,633,044Pasquariello Mar. 31, 1953 2,726,563 (Blackburn Dec. 13, 1955

